Green Bay — Hunter Smith, the punter for the Indianapolis Colts in every game for the last 10 seasons, easily could have been punting for the Green Bay Packers in 2009.

Instead, Smith signed with the Washington Redskins just before the draft when the Packers demanded that he sign a multi-year contract and then wouldn't include an attractive enough bonus package.

So Smith, the No. 1 punter on the unrestricted free-agent market in March, is the only punter in Washington while the Packers almost are hoping against hope that one of the prospects in their camp will fill a worrisome void on their roster.

"Hunter's not part of our football team," coach Mike McCarthy said last week. "We have two young guys who have an excellent opportunity. They need to take advantage of it."

Smith, 31, attracted strong interest from the Packers in early March and took trips to Green Bay and Washington. Smith became a free agent by taking advantage of a clause in his contract to void the final year.

"He liked both opportunities," Smith's agent, Tom Mills, said. "Green Bay wanted two or three years but wouldn't do one. But when the long-term bonus wasn't there we opted for the one-year deal in Washington."

The Redskins paid Smith the veteran's minimum of $845,000 plus a $50,000 signing bonus. If he punts well, he can go back on the market in March.

"The situation in Green Bay was better from a financial standpoint, but it made more sense to come here," Smith said Friday in Washington.

Was the decision not to satisfy Smith and make him a Packer another in a litany of blunders at the position?

Only time will tell. But it wouldn't come as a major surprise if Smith continues his steady career in Washington and the Packers end up striking out with Jeremy Kapinos, Durant Brooks or somebody else.

There was the failure to re-sign Craig Hentrich in 1998, then Sean Landeta in 1999 and finally Josh Bidwell in 2004.

There was the decision to trade up into the third round and draft B.J. Sander in 2004.

And then there was the decision to cut Jon Ryan and sign Derrick Frost at the end of camp a year ago.

Smith was coming off a season in which his career-best net of 38.8 yards ranked 10th in the National Football League and his gross of 44.2 ranked 12th. He also had two touchbacks, fewest in the NFL. His career averages are 43.4 and 35.5.

McCarthy and special-teams coach Mike Stock decided Frost was better than Ryan after the Redskins cut Frost to go with Brooks, their sixth-round draft choice. But Frost was so bad that he had to be released after 12 games, which led to the signing of Kapinos.

For the season, the Packers ranked 27th in gross punting (41.4) and 23rd in net (35.7).

Kapinos probably isn't as talented as Brooks but might blend in better with teammates. Brooks battled a hip flexor problem the last two years, an injury that contributed to his release by the Redskins after six games (39.6, 32.1).

Neither man excelled during the off-season, which ended with Slocum still unsure if either had NFL leg strength or consistency.

"It's a problem when we don't meet the production that the NFL requires in terms of field position," said Slocum. "The two guys we have are not just competing against one another but, really, they're competing against the NFL standard. That's what we must have."

Green Bay ranked 26th in the Dallas Morning News' ratings of overall special-teams performance. There were problems galore, such as the 25 penalties (most since 2000) and 41 missed tackles (most since '05). Jarrett Bush had six penalties, most by a Packer in more than 20 years.

"That has to change," Slocum said. "You can play aggressive, but you must play within the rules. Last year, I don't think anyone associated with the Packers was satisfied with our entire body of work. I look forward to improving that."

The Packers probably overrate Mason Crosby, whose 79.5% on field goals in his first two seasons ranks among the bottom quarter of the NFL. He missed walk-off field goals in Minnesota (52 yards) and Chicago (38), hit three kickoffs out of bounds and was 0 for 3 on onside kicks.

Although the best part of Crosby's game has been kickoffs, the new staff has worked to expand his repertoire with placement boots.

"With Mason's talent there's no reason in the world why he shouldn't be one of the better kickers in the NFL," said Slocum. "But when it's time to make a game-winner they must make it in order to have a legacy, to maintain status in the NFL."

Crosby had to shift from Ryan, his holder all camp, to Frost and then quarterback Matt Flynn. His long snapper, Brett Goode, proved to be a nice find on the eve of the regular season.

Flynn enters camp as the No. 1 holder.

For the first time since Allen Rossum in 2001 the Packers head into camp with an established two-way return specialist. He's Will Blackmon, whose 11.1 average on punt returns was the team's best since Desmond Howard in '96. However, he tied for 34th on kickoff returns at 21.0.

About Bob McGinn

Bob McGinn is a beat writer and columnist covering the Green Bay Packers. A six-time Wisconsin state sportswriter of the year, he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award in 2011 for long and distinguished reporting on pro football.